Why is Lok Sabha deputy speaker post empty for 7 years? Congress MP slams govt

New Delhi: Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticised the NDA government for leaving the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker post vacant for seven years, calling it a serious blow to parliamentary democracy. He emphasised that Article 93 of the Constitution requires the House to elect both a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker, and leaving the position vacant violates this requirement.

Tagore noted that by convention, the Deputy Speaker’s post is usually offered to the Opposition to ensure balance, neutrality, and respect for democratic norms in parliamentary proceedings. He argued that keeping the post vacant denies the Opposition its rightful space and weakens the institution itself.

The criticism comes as Congress MPs submitted a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accusing him of “blatantly partisan” conduct and of preventing opposition leaders from speaking. Tagore stated that the absence of a Deputy Speaker during such proceedings exposes the deliberate vacancy even more starkly and reflects insecurity rather than strength in governance.

He urged the government to respect the Constitution “in letter and spirit” and highlighted that democracy is not about the power of one individual or party, but about upholding constitutional norms and accountability. This development has sparked discussions on parliamentary practices, the importance of Opposition representation, and the role of constitutional posts in ensuring fair and balanced legislative functioning in India.
(With ANI inputs)